6 Potential Cons of Taking a Gap Year (And Why Theyre Ok...

A gap year can be an amazing experience. Extended travel is a great way to see the world and learn more about yourself. Taking an entire year gives you time to think and figure out more about what you want in life. And you’ll have incredible adventures throughout the year!

So why are gap years so controversial?

Gap years are awesome!

You might’ve heard a bit about why gap years are bad, but there are many misconceptions and fears about taking a gap year. Most concerns about taking a gap year are valid in one way or another. It’s definitely important to consider all concerns, and benefits, of a gap year before committing to an entire year abroad. The cons of a gap year are real and valid, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take one. The pros are just as real, and beneficial to boot! 

Knowing the pros doesn’t just make the cons vanish from your mind, and we get that! Here are some of the most common potential cons of taking a gap year, and why they’re okay.

Why gap years are bad (er, can be)

1. The Con: Gap years can be expensive.

From flights to housing to program fees and food, there are a lot of budget considerations to take into account during a gap year. It can add up quick! Depending on the type of gap year travel you choose, you could be looking at some sizeable costs. And while you’re reveling in your newfound freedom from high school, it’s not like you’re made of cash! The costs of a gap year can be a little intimidating. We get it.

Saving up for a gap year can be hard.

Why it’s okay: It’s worth the cost! (And there are tons of ways to cut costs).

Gap years are sometimes expensive, but the gap year benefits make it totally and completely worth it. If you have to spend money on something expensive, it might as well be on an amazing experience that will help define and shape you for years to come. You aren’t wasting money on the latest fad or iPhone; you are investing in yourself and your future.

Plus, there are tons of ways to cut costs and fundraise. Starting from scratch with funds is hard, but not impossible. And there are gap year options for programs that are cheaper to begin with! With a little luck and a lot of research, you’ll be able to keep gap year costs low, no problemo!

2. The Con: You might be totally on your own.

Being away from home for the first time is something every person has to go through eventually. But most eighteen-year-olds go through this at college, surrounded by familiar culture and food, with their family just a phone call away. Having this experience during a gap year can be a bit different.

Traveling alone might be hard at first and that’s okay!

You’ll likely be in a totally different country, which means unfamiliar culture and no comfort foods. Depending on where you go, you might not even be able to call your family and friends. You’re not just homesick, you’re also totally on your own. That’s a valid concern and something that can be scary for anyone.

Why it’s okay: You’ll learn a ton about yourself.

Being on your own means you’ll be forced to rely on yourself. Your independence and self confidence will skyrocket when you are 100% responsible for yourself. And being in new situations will help you learn a ton about yourself. By the end of your gap year, you’ll know how you are in a crisis or the best way for you to relax after a long day. 

Being on your own might be a little scary, but it’s not a totally bad thing. Feeling nervous means that you’re aware of the possible emotional complications that come with being on your own. And that means you’ll be even more prepared to face and deal with them. You got this.

3. The Con: You might lose momentum.

Because gap years are tons of fun ;)

A really common fear among gap-year takers, and their friends and families, is that one year off will turn into another and another. It’s easy to get caught up in this fear and worry that you’ll never make anything of yourself if you dare to take a year off from school. When thinking of all the reasons why gap years are bad, this might come up, and that’s okay!

Why it’s okay: The statistics don’t back this up.

While this is a common fear, it’s just not backed up by statistics. Gap Year Association statistics show that “90 percent of students who took a gap year returned to college within a year.” Another source, Joe O'Shea's book, Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs says that "economic researchers found that high school students who deferred their admission to college to take a Gap Year went to college (after their gap year) at the same rate as those who accepted an offer and intended to go straight there.” 

So while it’s good to be aware of this con, cut yourself a little bit of slack. The stats aren’t there and if you want to go back to college, you will! :)

4. The Con: It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind.

Choosing to take a gap year of travel means you’ll probably be starting college a year later than your peers. You might see your friends posting pictures of their new dorm rooms or tweeting about their first college classes. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind when people you know are moving forward with college. 

It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind, but you aren’t!

And once you do start college, you’ll be a year older. You’ll also graduate a year later than everyone else. It’s possible that your career might begin a bit later as a result. Taking a year off will logically delay everything else by a year, and it’s easy to feel like this puts you at a disadvantage.

Why it’s okay: You’re recharging while boosting your resume!

Thinking of a gap year as “delaying college” sounds negative, but it doesn’t have to be. Many people need the time off from school. After twelve years of schooling, it’s normal and even healthy to delay college and take some time away from your academic career to rest up and recharge.

And, while a gap year will delay your college experience by a year, it will also boost your college performance and future career. Claire Crawford and Jonathan Cribb, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies through the Centre for Analysis of Youth Transitions, did a study on gap years. They found that, in the United Kingdom and in the United States, students who took a gap year were more likely to graduate with a higher GPA than observationally identical individuals who went straight to college. 

Taking a gap year actually prepares you for college.

Depending on how you spend your gap year, it can also boost your resume! Employers want to know that you’re well-rounded and know how to balance your life. Taking a year to volunteer with children in Africa is more impressive than finishing college just a year earlier. Gap year benefits can do amazing things for your resume, so delaying school by a year is worth it!

5. The Con: It’s hard to keep in touch with friends.

Graduating high school already means potentially moving away from friends. And going on a gap year means you’ll be even further away from your friends. It’s hard enough to keep in touch when you’re at different colleges, much less different countries! This con might sound silly out loud, but these are the people you’ve spent hours laughing and bonding with for years prior, and the possibility of losing your connection with them can be a really scary.  

Why it’s okay: The friendships that really matter will last. And you’ll make a ton of new friends!

This con is valid because of the deep connection you’ve developed with your friends, but the truly genuine friendships will last through the years. Through busy schedules, college, and even gap years, the friendships that really matter will last. Plus, with today’s technology, you can keep sharing jokes and moments from a thousand miles apart.

You’ll meet tons of awesome people during your gap year.

Whichever path you choose for your gap year travel is bound to bring people with similar interests into your life. Whether its bonding with other volunteers or bumping into a fellow traveler at a themed restaurant, you’ll meet tons of new friends while traveling abroad for your gap year. So, while some friendships from back home might fade, you’ll be out making new connections and friendships abroad! 

6. The Con: Gap years require a ton of extra planning.

When thinking about the cons of taking a gap year, this one definitely comes to mind. Taking a gap year is a huge decision with endless possibilities. You could volunteer abroad or try an internship somewhere! You could backpack around on your own or take a pre-planned group trip. You could take just a few months or take the entire year. There are so many ways to personalize your “gap year” experience, and all of them require planning.

You’ll have to decide where you want to volunteer and for how long. You’ll get to plan your entire backpacking route. While it’s exciting to plan, it can also be really overwhelming. A gap year is supposed to be an escape from normal life, right? So why can’t it be an escape from planning and making tons of decisions too?

The Reality? Planning means you’re making your own decisions. 

The world is your oyster!

You’ve spent the last 18 years of your life trying to make your own decisions and plans. But, as a teenager, you don’t always have the freedom or ability to do exactly what you want to do. Planning a gap year gives you the chance to do just that.

Have you always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower? You can plan your gap year around that, without having to account for anybody else’s wishes. Is spending the night in a hammock in the rainforest a secret dream of yours? There’s programs to help make that happen. Want to spend your gap year in New Zealand learning how to be a fire dancer? Legitimately nobody is stopping you. (Just be safe please :) )

So go crazy! Use your imagination, follow your dreams, and apply any other cliche advice you’ve always heard. Planning can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve got resources up the wazoo to help you on your way. Your gap year options are endless and the sky is literally the limit. (Space program gap years aren’t a thing quite yet :(

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Trust us when we say: A gap year will be your most amazing travel experience yet!

Adventure is out there, waiting for you!

Taking a gap year is a big deal, and it’s important to consider the pros and cons of taking a gap year before you commit to an entire year abroad. The cons are definitely valid, but so are the pros!

There are lots of awesome advice articles about gap years, but, when it comes down to it, you know what’s best for you personally. Regardless of the opinions of your friends and family, despite the potential obstacles, if you think a gap year is right for you, then just go! Get out of your head and don’t overthink it. You are an (brand new) adult with a good head on your shoulders, and a gap year has the potential to be the most amazing adventure of your life so far. It’ll shape your education, career, and personal development for the rest of your life. You know the pros and cons of taking a gap year, and you got this. 

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